By Suoyo Ekubo
The C4i Intelligence Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command in the early hours of Friday 19th May, 2023, raided a suspected kidnappers’ hideout at Oyigbo/Igbo-Etche Forest.
The Operatives were acting on actionable intelligence gathered on the kidnapping gang. Upon sighting the Police team the hoodlums opened fire on them. During the gun duel that lasted for about an hour, the gang leader, who was later identified as Aka Blacky, was fatally wounded. Another suspect identified as Peter Nwafor ‘m’ was shot while trying to escape.
The police public relations officer SP Grace Iringe-koko in a statement disclosed that the two suspects were taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where they were confirmed dead by doctor on duty. Their corpse have been deposited at the UPTH Mortuary.
The gang was linked to the kidnap of a woman and her daughter on 18th March, 2023 along Garrison, Port Harcourt. It would be recalled that two members of the gang had earlier been arrested.
Exhibit recovered at the scene include 1 AK47 Rifle and 18 Live Ammunition.
Meanwhile, SP Grace Iringe-koko has advised residents of the state to remain supportive, law-abiding, and vigilant and promptly report acts of crime and criminality to the nearest police station or by calling the command’s emergency hotlines on 08032003514 and 08098880134.
